The Dons started like a runaway train and almost snatched the lead after just 11 seconds when Hayes’ cross from the left caused panic in the Well defence before Adam Cummins managed to knock it wide for a corner.

Hayes swung the kick over for Rory Fallon who fired goalwards, but he was denied by Hollis.

Keith Lasley hit a 20-yard shot wide at the other end as Well started to come to life.

But the home support were on their feet again after 11 minutes when Hayes’ long-ranger looked destined to end up in the back of the net, only for Hollis to stretch and touch the ball wide for a corner.

Scott Vernon then sent a header wide from a Hayes cross as the Dons continued to enjoy the better of the play.

Dons kid Joe Shaughnessy picked up the first yellow card of the afternoon on 17 minutes for clattering Murphy.

And seconds later Chris Humphrey tested Jamie Langfield with a 22-yard piledriver that the Dons keeper tipped over the bar.

The home side were soon back on the attack and Josh Magennis and Considine both sent efforts wide as they tried to force an opener.

Motherwell always looked dangerous on the counter though, and Murphy sent a low effort just wide from the edge of the box after a mistake by Mark Reynolds gave the visitors possession.

The action slowed down as the interval approached, but quickly picked up again after the break.

It was end-to-end stuff — a good, old-fashioned cup tie. but it desperately needed a goal, and as the match wore on, it got harder to see where one would come from.

Well defender Kerr had a real heart-in-mouth moment in 57 minutes when he sliced a Shaughnessy cross off the outside of his own post.

And seven minutes later Russell Anderson tried his luck from distance — only to put the ball out for a THROW-IN.

Nicky Law then sent a tame header into Langfield’s arms from Tom Hateley’s cross in 68 minutes, and Hateley had an effort comfortably saved by the keeper moments later.

But it was starting to look like it would need a blunder or a moment of magic to break the deadlock.

With just ten minutes to go, it turned out to be the latter.

Murphy had been the biggest thorn in the side of the Dons defence throughout.

When he picked up the ball on the left edge of the box and cut inside you just knew he only had one thing on his mind.

The Well ace zipped his way towards the D with the Dons defence unable to stop him before he rifled an unstoppable right-foot shot into the top corner.

Motherwell’s fans were jubilant, the Dons faithful dejected as they contemplated the prospect of yet another trophyless season.

But bang on the 90th minute they were partying like they had won the Cup when McGinn nodded in to force a replay and keep their Hampden dream alive.